Ironer



Aug. 1941- J. A. CASTRICONE 2,254,166 A IRONER Filed March 16, 1936 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 3 i in- INVERTER.

26, 1941- J. A. CASTRICONE 2,254.166

IRONER Filed March 16, 1936 s Sheets-Sheet 2 INYEHTUR- A'I ITE- Aug. 26, 1941.

J. A. CASTRICONE IRONER Filed March 16, 1936 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Invzxrma.

7? 7? Ar-r175.

Aug. 26, 1941.

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ATTYE.

g- 1941- -J. A. CASTRICONE IRONER 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 lnxzznrma.

, Filed March 16 1936 ATHE.

J. A. CASTRICONE IRONER Filed March 16} "1936 e Sheet-Shegt e a U H. E v n I Pat enter] Aug. 26, 1941 4 Application March 16, 1936, Serial No. 69,007

4 Claims.

This invention has reference to the art of making power driven domestic ironers.

The invention has for one of its objects to provide an ironing machine of sturdy construction and neat appearance, with its parts arranged to give efiicient service and convenience in use.

Another object is to provide a mechanism of the class described having a novel arrangement of parts whereby the supporting elements of the ironing roll and shoe cause a minimum of obstruction on the table below the roll so that garments may be easily and conveniently handled in ironing.

A further object is to provide an arrangement of parts in which the driving and control mechanism of the ironer are disposed below the. oner table top.

An additional object is to provide an ironer drive mechanism in which there is incorporated a simple novel lubricating system.

Another object is to provide a driving mechanism as aforesaid in which the driving motor is disposed below the driven mechanism with its.

shaft passing through the bottom of the casing surrounding the driven mechanism, which cas n contains a quantity of lubricating oil, and novel means for sealing the motor shaft so as to prevent oil in the casing from flowing downwardly onto the motor.

Another object is to provide an ironer mechanism which includes a novel means of supporting and operating the ironing shoe.

A further object is to provide a mounting for theironing shoe which permits universal movement of the shoe with respect to its supp rt to insure perfect alignment of the shoewith the associated roll,

Another object is to provide an ironer mechanism which includes a novel means of supporting and driving the ironing roll.

An additional object lies in the provision of an ironer mechanism in which there is included means for driving the ironing roll at several selected speeds.

Further and additional objects will appear in the following specification and accompanying tain parts are shown in section for illustrative purposes;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmental sectionated side elevational view of the driving and roll mechanism;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged elevational sectional view showing details of mechanism to be described;

Fig. 6 is a sectional plan view taken on line 6-6 in Fi 3;

Fig. 7 isa sectional plan view taken on line 61 in Fig. 3;

Fig. 8 is a sectional elevational view taken on 'line 8-8 in Fi 6;

taken on Fig. 14 is a sectional elevational view taken in direction of the arrows on line 14- in Fig. 17;

Fig. 15 is an elevational view of a handle to be described, taken from the line I l-l4 in Fig. 17 in direction opposite the arrows;

Fig. 16 is a sectional elevational view taken on .line l6l6 in Fig. 13;

Fig. 17 is a view similar to Fig. 16 showing parts in inoperative position; and,

Fig. 18 isa fragmental sectional view taken on line I8 =-"-l8 in Fig. 16.

Figs. 1 and 2 show my ironer mounted upon a table In. The table is not a part of the present invention and will not be described further than to say that in plan the top is rectangular, while the supporting portion has somewhat the form of the letter C. The two end portions ll extend out to the front of the table while the central portion 12 is recessed to accommodate the Operators knees while sitting at the table. A control button I3 is disposed on the inner wall of the recess in position to be operated by the knee, and

. this button is connected with a control element of the ironer mechanism. as will be described.

The table structure is preferably made up of shapes of sheet metal so-fashioned that the end portions ll enclose a hollow'area. The driving mechanism of my ironer is disposed in one of the hollow ends, as will be described. 1

The ironer as a whole comprises a roll I4 supported upon a stand or housing structure l5.

A co-operative shoe I6 is supported upon an arm I! which carries an operating handle II.

The driving mechanism, shown in detail in Figs. 3 and 4 and in dotted, outline in Figs. 1 and 2, is operatively connected with the roll and shoe, as will now be described.

The roll [4 is supported from the housing structure !5 upon a tubular member l8 which is rigidly secured in the housing structure, as shown best in Fig. 4. The tube extends outwardly to a point near the end of the roll as shown in Fig. 1. Spoke or disk members l9 are secured inside the roll at each end and are journalled on tube l8, whereby the roll is wholly supported for rotation on the tube.

A shaft is journalled within the tube and extends a short distance beyond the outboard end of tube l8 and is connected to the roll strucwhich are trained over an offset transfer unit mounted in the neck of housing I5.

It will be noted in Figs. 2 and 3 that the neck portion 15 of the housing structure I5 is offset from a vertical line passing through the shaft 20. In other words, there is provided a space free from obstruction throughout the length of the table below the roll. As shown in Fig. 2, the

surface 26 of the housing structure is disposed flush with the top of the table. The drive chain arrangement described is obviously well adapted to transmit power from a mechanism disposed below the table, through the curved neck, to the roll shaft 20.

The shoe I6 is supported upon the arm I! by means of bracket members 21 secured to the back of the shoe and to a U shaped member 28 by a bolt 29.

The U piece 28 is held in position on arm II by means of a spring confined by a bolt 3| passing through the back wall of member 28 and the arm. That part of brackets 21 engaged on bolt 29 is slotted, as indicated in dotted lines in Figs. 16 and 17, and the shoe is thus made easily demountable. By loosening the nut of the bolt the shoe may be lifted away from the U piece 28.

Spring 30 has suflicient strength to hold member, 28 and the shoe in normal working position, but the mounting provides a pivotal support on which the shoe is movable in all directions necessary for perfect alignment of the shoe with the roll or with garments placed between them.

The arm I1 is journalled on a horizontally disposed tube 32 which isrigidly supported on the table at'its outboard end by a stand 33, the inner end being secured in an upstanding portion |5"' The arm i1 is actuated to move the shoe to-' ward and away from the roll through a shaft 34 which is journalled inside the tube 32.

member 36 by means of a bell crank member 3! which is pivotally supported on the arm structure at 38 with one arm slidably engaging a pin in the bar and the other arm connected through a link 39 with an arm of a bell crank structure 40 which is pivotally mounted on the arm at 4|.

The opposite arm 42 of bell crank 40 slidably carried a shaft'43 upon the inner end of which a spring 44 is confined.

The outer face of arm 42 is provided with notches 42, see Fig. 14, adapted to receive a pin secured in the shaft 43 and handle ll as indicated in Figs. 14 and 15. The spring 44 urges the pin 45 into engagement with the notches to normally hold the shaft against turning.

The handle I1 is secured to the outer end of shaft 43 by means of the pin 45. Figs. 13 to 15 illustrate that the arm 42 carries a lug 46 disposed offset from the center line of handle I1 and the adjacent part of handle H" is fashioned to have a pair of shoulders 41 so disposed as to permit limited pivotal movement of the handle with shaft 45 so that the handle may be placed in lowered position as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 13. The handle is obviously held in upright position by the pin 45 because of the tension of spring 44, but may easily be dislodged and moved as shown. The object of this movable feature is to save overall height in the ironer when a cover is used or when the ironer is stored away.

The function of the above described mechanismis to provide a releasable means for locking the arm I? and shoe structure to the shaft 34. The locking action is obviously accomplished by the bar 35 engaging with member 35 on shaft 34, engagement being urged by spring 35' or by movement of handle H on pivot 4|. When in locked position the arm and shoe are moved with the shaft 34. The shaft is rotated by means which will be described and the shoe is thus moved toward or away a certain distance from the roll, as required in the ordinary work of ironing. When it is desired to move the shoe further away from'the roll than it is moved by the power mechanism, the handle I1 is pushed backwardly, whereby the bell cranks 40 and 37 are rotated in the obvious manner to disengage the bar 35 from 'member 36. Thus, movement of arm I! with respect to the shaft is permitted so that the shoe may be dropped back, as shown in Fig. 17.

The devices also operate as an emergency release. In the event that it becomes necessary to I -move the shoe from the roll quicker than would ported on the tube and thus the weight of the The shaft is operatively connected with the ironer drive mechanism by means to be descibed, and with arm I! by means of a bar 35 which is slidably mounted in the arm and made engageable with a recess in a member 36 secured to the shaft, see Fig. 13.

The bar 35 is actuated to engage or disengage hoe-arm structure is supported wholly on the tube and no stress is placed on shaft 34 except that required to move the shoe toward or away from the roll.

For operating the roll and shoe I provide a mechanism, as follows:

Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate, in dotted outline, a driving motor 48 disposed within the hollow portion i I of the table structure.

Fig. 3 shows in detail that the motor is sup ported from the lower portion of housing structure I5.

The motor shaft is connected through a coupling 49 with a vertically disposed shaft 50 car- 'rying a worm The worm shaft also carries an oil sealing device 52 which will be referred to later.

The worm shaft is journalled in upper and lower bearings 53 and 54 and the upper end is provided with a ball thrust bearing, as shown in Fig. 5, which comprises a ball 55 abutted by a screw 56 threaded in the housing structure beneath the portion 25.

Worm 5| meshes with a worm gear 51 which is mounted for rotation on a fixed shaft 58, the shaft being supported at its outer end upon a bracket structure 58 and at its inner end in a boss 88 'of the housing structure. The worm gear is confined against movement longitudinally of the shaft by a pin 51', see Fig. 12.

Worm gear 51 carries a series of teeth 8| which are engageable with similar teeth on a slidable and rotatable member 82 which has a gear portion 63. Between the gear and toothed portions is an annular slot 84.

In theslot is engaged a forked member 85, Figs. '7 and 11, which is mounted upon a shaft 88 in assembly with a tubular member 61 on the opposite end of which is a small extending arm 68. The shaft 66 is slidably supported at one end in an elongated boss 69 in the housing structure and near its outer end by a plate or framing member 96, secured to the housing structure. The assembly is normally urged in an outward direction by an encased spring 10, whereby member 82 is urged toward worm gear 51 to hold the clutching elements in engagement. The function of the latter described assembly will be explained-shortly.

Rotatably mounted on shaft 58, on the side of worm' gear 51 Opposite the teeth 8|, is a unit structure including a clutch mechanism 1| and an eccentric 12. I

Slidably mounted on eccentric 12 is a strap portion 13 of a link member 14. Link 14 has a slot .15 which engages a, pin 16 mounted in the lower end of an arm 11 which is secured to shaft 34 already noted.

Assembled with link 14 is a side member 18 which has a slot similar to 15 and is bent in at the opposite end and the bent in portion cooperates with a similarly bent in portion of link 14 to confine a spring 19. The oppositeend of spring 19 is confined by a cupped saddle member 88 which rests upon the pin'15.

With the foregoing description in'mind, it will be apparent that rotation of eccentric -12 will cause reciprocal pivotal movement ofarm 11, shaft 34 and shoe arm l1 whereby the shoe "5 will be alternately moved toward and away from the ironing roll. In practice I arrange the parts in such a manner that the stroke-of eccentric 12 is somewhat greater than the length of travel of arm 11 as limited by the shoe in contact with the ironing roll, sothat when the eccentric is placed in the position shown in Fig. 3 the link 14 is forced toward the right a greater distance than the arm 11 can move. This causes movement of the slots 15 over pin 15 and results in compression of spring 19. In this situation the ironing shoe is obviously held against the roll in a, resilient manner and the shoe is free to be moved away from the roll, in opposition to spring 18. Thus, when garments are run between the roll and shoe the shoe is forced away from the roll with the spring 19 resiliently pressing the shoe on the garments whereby a suitable ironing pressure is maintained on the garments irrespective of their thickness. In this connection at.-

tention is called to the novel means of mounting the shoe on arm l1, already described.

While the spring 18 is capable of yieldingly holding the shoe in contact with garments on the roll, this in itself would not insure even pressure throughout the length of the shoe. For example,

if the shoe were mounted on the arm l1 in the conventional way, movable perhaps only about To operate the eccentric and ironing shoe as above described I utilize the clutch mechanism 1|, consisting of a body member 8! made integral with eccentric l2 and associated parts, shown best in Fig. 10.

' 0n the face opposite eccentric 12 the body member is recessed, the recesses being so formed as to receive a member 82 which is rockably mounted on a boss portion 83 of the body member. Member 82 is provided with extending finger portions 84 and 85 and a stud 88. A spring 81 having one end attached to finger 85 and the opposite end anchored on the body member tends to hold member 82 in the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 10.

. Superimposed upon member 82 is a plate member 88 mounted for crosswise movement on member 8! by means of suitable recesses and screws 88. Plate 88 carries a raised portion 88 which includes a tooth}! and also has a recess 93 engaging the stud 86 on member 82.

On the side of worm gear 51 adjacent the clutch is a series of recesses, which are so disposed as to be engaged by tooth 9| when plate 88 is moved toward the left in Fig. 10, see dotted outline;

The plate 88 is actuated to move tooth 81 toward the dotted line position, which would be its engaged position, or to the solid line or disengaged position when the member 82 is rocked, this being accomplished through the stud 85- recess 98 connection. The opening in plate 88 surrounding boss 83 is elongated to permit the sliding movement described.

The function of the clutch mechanism just described is to rotate eccentric 12 in steps of degrees each whereby the eccentric is moved to a rest position, as shown in Fig. 3, to 'hold the shoe in contact with the roll or to a rest position diametrically opposite to move the shoe away from the roll and hold it in spaced position.

To accomplish this movement the clutch must function to engage the recesses in worm gear 51, which is in constant rotation, for a period of time sufiicient to rotate the clutch through 180 degrees to a'stop, for example, with the shoe in contact with the roll. With the shoe in this position, another step of rotation through 180 degrees will obviously move the shoe toa stop away from the roll.

. normally held in the dotted line position, Fig.

10, by the spring 81 and that when in this position the tooth 9| is in engagement with worm gear 51 whereby the clutch body and eccentric 12' are rotated in unison with the worm ear.

It will now become apparent that during such rotation, if progress of either of the fingers at or 85 is interrupted, as by an obstructing part 94, the member 82 will become stationary while the remaining parts of the mechanism continue rotation and this rotation will continue until the parts are placed in the relative position shown in solid lines in Fig. 10, wherein, through stud 80, the plate 88 is slid toward the right and tooth 9I is disengaged from the worm gear. So long as the obstruction 94 remains in place there will be no further rotation of eccentric I2.

Assuming the position noted to correspond with the position of the eccentric shown in Fig. 3, we will have the shoe in contact with the roll. If now the obstruction 94 is removed, spring 31 will obviously operate member 82 as described to re-engage tooth SI with the worm gear whereupon the eccentric will begin rotation to move the shoe away from the roll.

Assuming that the obstruction 94, immediately after escapement of finger 85, is restored to obstructing position, it will be in the path of finger 84 and upon engagement the parts will again be operated as described to arrest rotation of eccentric I2. Since the fingers are diametrically opposite, the extent of rotation will be limited to 180 degrees, corresponding to a position of the shoe away from the roll.

It will thus be clear that successive movements of arms 96 into and out of obstructing position will result in alternate operation of the shoe into and out of contact with the ironing roll.

Manual control of the mechanism above described is accomplished as follows:

The obstructing member 94 comprises an arm 90, of a lever pivotally mounted on a stud 95 supported by the plate 96., The opposite arm of the lever, designated 91, is connected through a link 08 with an arm'of a lever 59, see Fig. 3, which is pivotally mounted at I00. The opposite arm of lever 99 is connected, through a link IOI, bell crank I02 and link I03, with the knee control member I3. The connecting mechanism just described obviously provides a control device by means of which the ironing shoe I6 is power operated toward or away from the roll responsively to successive periods of pressure on button I3.

Power operation of the ironing roll is accomplished by means of a transmission mechanism consisting of an idler gear unit comprising two gears I04 and I05, gear I05 being of larger diameter than gear I04 and meshing with gear 63 already noted. The unit is journalled on a stud I06 securedin housing I5.

Meshing with gear I04 is a gear I01 and a gear I08 meshes with gear I05. Gears I01 and I08 are rotatably mounted on a shaft I09 which is mounted for rotation at one end in a bearing fixed in housing I5, and near the opposite end in a bearing- III] secured in plate 96, see Fig. 6.

Figs. 6 and 9 illi'istrate that the outside end of the shaft I09 carries a collar member II I having a flange portion in which recesses II2 are formed. A similar collar member H3 is secured to the shaft opposite gear I08.

Gears I01 and I08 have teeth H4, shown in Fig. 8, adapted to engage the recesses in the collars.

The gears are confined between arm portions of a shift, member I I5 which is slidably supported on a pair of studs H6. The arm portions are forked as shown in Figs. 6 and 8.

similar speeds.

The shift member is capable of moving gears I01 and I08 so as to engage either gear with the adjacent collar, III or H3, to rotate the shaft I09 in unison with the engaged gear.

It will be apparent that by means of the mechanism just described rotation of gear 63 is imparted to gears I01 and I08 which rotate at dis- By shifting gear I08 into engagement with collar H3, shaft I09 will be rotated at a certain speed, whereas if the gears are shifted so as to engage gear III! with collar Ili'the shaft will be rotated at a lower speed as determined by the relative ratios of the gears.

Shaft I09 carries a sprocket II! which meshes with chain 24 and thus has driving connection with the ironing roll. Thus, the roll is driven by power transmitted from the worm gear 51, through the gear and chain transmission mechanism, at a selected high or low speed.

Manual control of the speed change devices is provided by means of a mechanism including a handle IIB fixed to a short shaft which is journalled in housing I5 and extends within the housing. On its inner end the shaft carries an arm H9 which is connected through a link I20 with an arm of a bell crank I2I The other arm of the bell crank carries a stud i2I" which is engaged in the back or web portion of shifter H5. By the above means the speed of rotation of the ironing roll is controlled by simple manipulation of handle H8.

One more feature of the control devices is to be noted- Mention has already been made of a small arm 68 assembled with the shift arm 65. Figs. 6 and '7 show an inwardly extending lug I22 disposed on the back face of eccentric l2, and that the arm 68 lies in the path of this lug. The

lug is disposed on the high side of the eccentric,

and is obviously adapted to engage and shift the arm 68, with arm 65 and clutch unit 62 to declutch the latter when the eccentric lies with its high side toward the left in Fig. 3, whereas when the eccentric lies toward the right the spring I0 is free to shift the clutch into driving engagement with worm gear 51.

Operation of the mechanism is as follows:

With worm 5| running, worm gear 5? in rotation and eccentric I2 lying toward the left in Fig- 3, the ironing shoe will be away from the roll and lug I22 will be in position to hold clutch 62 disengaged.

With the parts in above position an operator may press and then release the button I3 which action will momentarily remove the arm 94 to permit escapement of finger 84 (which will then be in contact) whereupon the eccentric will be rotated degrees to place the shoe in contact with the roll. Simultaneously with this movement the lug I22 will be removed from arm 60 and the clutch 62 will be operated by the means described to drive the gear 63 and the ironing roll through one of gears III! or I08. The ironer is now in arrangement for practical use. During the ironing operation, when it is desired to change the speed of the roll it is but necessary to manipulate the handle H8 to select the speed desired.

When it is desired to stop the ironer the button I3 is operated as before, whereupon the eccentric is caused to rotate to the next stop in which the shoe will be placed away from the roll and lug I22 will bein contact with arm 68, clutch 62 will lie disengaged and the roll will remain stationary.

It will be obvious that at any time the shoe '54 and housing I35 and between these surfaces are washers 52' and I36 made from fibre or other may be moved away from the roll by means of the handle I1 as described.

. stationary.

The handle 8, operated as above, also provides means whereby the roll may be started or stopped independently of the shoe operating mechanism.

The pressing operation may also be accomplished independently of the power drive by manipulating the shoe toward or away from the roll by means of the handle I1.

A mechanism such as has been described obviously requires eflicient means for lubrication and to this end I provide a lubricating system, as follows:

The bottom part of housing I is made oil tight and thus forms a sump to hold a certain quantity of oil. A small idler gear I30, rotatably mounted on a stud I3 I loosely meshes with worm gear 5I'and is rotated thereby.

The idler is so disposed and dimensioned that its lower part is constantly submerged in the oil in the sump.

At the top of worm gear 51 is a trough I32 which is cut away so as to straddle the gear, it having side portions lying closely adjacent the side faces of the gear and extending therealong for a short distance, as shown. The trough declines toward and ends just above the ball thrust bearing 55 as indicated in Fig. 5.

When the mechanism is in operation, the idler I30 carries oil from the sump up to the worm gear 51 to which it transfers. Thence it is carried by the worm gear up to the trough I32 which collects that part of the oil lying on the side faces of the gear, and conducts it to the lower end where it discharges directly upon the ball thrust bearing 55. From this point it runs down over the bearing 53 and worm, over the sealing cap 52 and back to the sump. 'In this manner the worm gear, worm and adjacent parts are continually bathed in oil. Since the worm revolves at a relatively high speed, there is always a certain amount of oil thrown off indiscriminately and the oil thus thrown eventually finds itsway to all parts of the mechanism.

With the arrangement of parts shown, where the worm shaft passes through the bottom of the sump the matter of preventing oil from following down the vertical shaft to the motor is important.

To effectively seal the shaft opening I provide a cap member 52 secured to the worm shaft. The cap carries an annular bead I33 about its center and has a lower skirt portion extending outwardly and downwardly over the upper end of the upstanding tubularbearing housing I35. The upper end of the bearing housing lies above the normal level of oil in the sump.

The bearing member 54 is set in the housing J35 in such position that its upper face lies a short distanceabove the upper face of the housing as shown in Fig. 5.

The cap 52 has two flat annular shoulder portions lying over the upper faces of the bearing suitable material. The above arrangement obviously provides two seals on the worm shaft, one above the other with both lying above the level of oil in the sump.

In practical use the progression of worm 5| is such that the worm tends to climb upwardly on the worm gear. The ball 55 obviously takes the thrust load.

The bearing 55 is so adjusted that when the worm is operating it is free to move upwarda small distance to leave a small space between washers I36 and 52' and their respective bearing surfaces. This arrangement avoids any wearing friction on the washers. Obviously, a seal is only needed when the worm shaft is stationary, as at other times the descending oil is forcibly thrown away from the cap 52, the bead I33 and skirt I34 acting as shedding surfaces.

After a period of operation, when the worm is again stationary the upward thrust force disappears and the worm falls backward and its weight rests upon the washers, whereby a double seal is again established. Thus, under all conditions the oil is prevented from leaving the housing.

The foregoing has described my invention. Modifications of structure are obviously possible without alteration of the principle involved. I,

do not wish to be limited in structure or function, except within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A device of the class described including in combination a table support, an ironing roll supported above the table, a cooperative ironing shoe supported adjacent the roll, power mechanism operating the roll and shoe including a motor with a vertically disposed shaft, an upright worm driven thereby, a worm gear meshing the worm, a housing supporting said mechanism, a sump in the bottom of said housing, oil in the sump and means to transport the oil from the sump to and over said worm and gear comprising an idler gear dipping into the oil and meshing with the worm gear, said idler gear transporting oil from the sump to the worm gear which transports it to a point above said worm, means for collecting the oil from the worm gear to conduct it .to and discharge it over the worm whence it gravitates back to the sump.

2. A device of the class described including in combination an ironing roll, a cooperative ironing shoe, power mechanism operating the roll and shoe disposed below the roll, a housing supporting said mechanism, a sump in the bottom of the housing, oil in the sump, the power mechanism including a motor disposed below the sump, an upright shaft passing through the bottom of the sump connected with said motor, a worm on the shaft meshing with a worm gear having operative connection with said roll and shoe, means to transport oil from the sump to said worm gear, means for collecting the oil from the worm gear and conducting it to a point above said worm where it is discharged to fall upon the worm and gear, whence it flows back anism operating the roll and shoe including a motor with a vertically disposed shaft, an upright worm driven thereby, a Worm gear meshing the worm, a housing supporting said mechanism, a sump in the bottom of said housing, oil in the sump, means to transport the oil from the sump to said worm gear, means for collecting the oil from the worm gear to conduct it to and discharge it over the worm, whence it gravitates back to the sump, a pair of sealing rings s ounding said wmn above the normal level 0 oil in the sump upon which the weight of the shaft rests when not in operation whereby seals are formed preventing oil from leaving the sump, said worm and gear being arranged so that the worm and shaft is elevated and the sealing surfaces are not incontact when the shaft is in driving operation.

4. A device of the class described includingin combination a table support, an ironing roll supported above the table, a cooperative ironing shoe supported adjacent the roll, power mechanism operating the roll and shoe including a motor with a vertically disposed shaft, an upright worm driven thereby, a Worm gear meshing with the worm, a housing supporting said mechanism, a sump in the bottom of said housing, oil in the sump, means to transport the oil from the sump to said worm gear, means for collecting the oil from the worm gear to conduct it to and discharge it over the worm, whence it flows downwardly over the worm and along said shaft, a sealing ring surrounding the worm shaft below the worm and above the normal level of oil in the sump, a skirted portion surrounding the shaft and overlying the seal over which the oil normally flows during descent, said skirt having surfaces which promote forcible shedding of the oil away from the seal during driving operation of the shaft.

JOHN A. CA SZCRICONE. 

